Mark Cuban on long meetings: send the email instead
Richard opened day 3 of Family Office Club's 2022 Super Summit with a talk on email. He began with Mark Cuban. Cuban, Richard says, sees long meetings as the biggest waste of time there is.
The view
As Richard tells it, Cuban believes almost anything you would say in a meeting can be said in an email. Richard adds that Elon Musk thinks the same about long meetings.
Why email works for him
Richard explains the logic. Cuban can read an email on a flight, at 4 a.m. or on a weekend. If it needs deep thought, he can take time. If it does not matter to him, he can skim it and move on. He does not have to sit on a long call and answer on the spot.
Richard's habit
Richard says he loves email too and sends a lot of it. The rest of that talk covered lessons from his own sent folder.
In Richard's words
"Mark Cuban believes the biggest waste of human life is sitting in long meetings." (Richard C. Wilson, Super Summit 2022 opening remarks)
"So he loves email, so do I." (Super Summit 2022 opening remarks)
How to use this
- Before booking a meeting, ask if an email would do.
- Write emails that can be answered in one reply.
- Respect busy people's time by letting them answer when it suits them.
- Save live calls for decisions that need real back and forth.
Questions and answers
What does Mark Cuban think of meetings?
Richard says Cuban sees long meetings as the biggest waste of time and prefers email.
Why does Cuban prefer email?
He can read and answer whenever he wants, skim what does not matter and think about what does.
Does Elon Musk agree?
Richard says Musk thinks the same about long meetings.
Did email work on Cuban?
Yes. Richard got his Billionaires.com interview after many emails.